Hey there, honey! You wanna know how to make that old-fashioned macaroni and cheese, huh? Well, lemme tell ya, it ain’t rocket science! My old grandma, bless her heart, used to make it all the time, and it was always a hit. I learned from the best, I tell ya. Now I make it all the time, for family, friends, even them church potlucks. People always ask me, “How do you make your macaroni so good?”. Here’s the secret.
First thing’s first, you gotta get yourself some macaroni. That elbow stuff, you know? The kind that looks like little bent pipes. And cheese, oh boy, you need a good amount of cheese. Cheddar is good, the sharper the better, if you ask me. I always say, the more cheese the better! Can’t have enough cheese in your macaroni and cheese. Some folks like that fancy cheese, but me, I like the regular kind. You know the ones that are already shredded in bags? Less work. I ain’t getting any younger!
- Get some elbow macaroni, the bent pipe kind
- Lots and lots of cheese, cheddar is good
- Milk, gotta have milk!
- Butter, the real stuff, not that fake stuff
- Salt and pepper, to make it taste good
- Maybe some flour, to make it thick. My grandma used to say this was the secret!
Now, you gotta boil some water. Big pot, lots of water. Throw some salt in there, too. Don’t be shy with the salt, water needs flavor too! Once it’s boiling like a hot spring, dump in your macaroni. Stir it around so it doesn’t stick together. Cook it till it’s soft, but not too mushy. Al dente, some people say. I just say, not mushy! About 8 minutes. Not too long, or it’ll turn to mush. And nobody wants mushy macaroni and cheese.
While that’s going, get yourself another pot. Melt some butter in there. Real butter, mind you, none of that margarine stuff. That stuff ain’t real butter! Once it’s melted, sprinkle in some flour. Not too much, just enough to make a paste. That’s what makes the cheese sauce thick, you see. Stir it good, get all the lumps out. Then, slowly pour in some milk. Keep stirring, keep stirring! You don’t want no lumpy cheese sauce. It’s gotta be smooth, like a baby’s bottom.
Once the milk is all mixed in, start adding your cheese. Handful at a time, stir it in until it melts. Old-fashioned macaroni and cheese needs a lot of cheese! Keep doing that until all your cheese is gone. Then, add a little salt and pepper. Taste it. Needs more salt? Add more. Needs more pepper? Add more. You gotta make it taste good, you know! It’s all about the taste. If it tastes good, you’re doing it right.
Now, your macaroni should be done. Drain it out, get rid of all that water. Then, dump it into the pot with the cheese sauce. Stir it all up, make sure every piece of macaroni is covered in that cheesy goodness. That’s the best part, when all the macaroni is covered in cheese.
Some folks like to bake it in the oven after this. They put it in a dish, sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top, and bake it till it’s bubbly. That’s good, too, gives it a nice crust. I do this sometimes. But if you’re in a hurry, you can just eat it like this. Still tastes mighty fine, if I do say so myself. Still good either way. I prefer baking, to get that crust. Oh, that crust is so good! My favorite part!
You can add other stuff, too. Some folks like to put in meat, like that ground beef. Or some sausage. Makes it a whole meal, you know? Sometimes I like to put in those little broccoli trees. You can add some veggies, too, like broccoli or those little cauliflower trees. Makes it healthier, I guess. Or you can throw in some spinach or kale. That’s good for you, they say. Sometimes I just throw in some hot sauce for a little heat! I like a little kick in my food. Some people add peppers, but I think that’s too fancy. But, hey, whatever floats your boat! It’s your macaroni and cheese, you do what you want.
There you have it, honey. That’s how you make old-fashioned macaroni and cheese. It ain’t hard, just takes a little time and a lot of love. And cheese. Don’t forget the cheese! Remember, lots of cheese. The more the better! Now go on and make some, and tell me how it turns out! I bet it will be the best macaroni and cheese you have ever eaten! I hope it’s just like my grandma’s!
